MasukMonday Morning.“Ethan, hurry up or you’re going to be late for school!” Katherine called out as she double-checked the lunch bag on the counter. It was her first day back at work, and all weekend she’d rehearsed her survival strategy: stay invisible, avoid Damien completely, and most importantly, keep herself far, far away from Massimo.But even the thought of him made her stomach twist. No matter how hard she tried to shove it out of her mind, the memory of that humiliating encounter at the hospital clung to her. Every time it replayed in her head, she felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment. How was she supposed to look him in the eye today? Share the same hallway? Breathe the same office air?Be neutral. Pretend nothing happened. Focus. You planned this, Katherine. Stick to it, she reminded herself for the hundredth time, inhaling deeply.“Mom, I’m here.”Ethan’s small voice pulled her back to reality. She looked down to find him standing in front of her ready.A smile softened her
“You caused all of this! You’re the cause of it!” Ariana snapped, pacing the hospital room.Ryan sat on the edge of the visitor chair, shoulders hunched. “I’m sorry. I di—” he starts, but Massimo’s glare made the apology died on his tongue. Massimo lies propped against pillows, his chest a white sheet of bandages. Ariana watches Ryan’s face, then narrows her gaze at Massimo. She presses a fingertip to her chin, like she’s weighing a bitter thought.“That bastard son of Vortan will pay,” Massimo promised. “Once I’m out of here I’ll ruin him and his family. I’ll tear them apart, then I’ll finish it with Katherine. She’ll have nothing left.” He smiled, cruelly. “She deserves to be left in ruin with him.”Ariana’s jaw hardens. “You’ll do whatever you like to get revenge, Massimo, but not at Katherine’s expense. She’s my friend. You hurt her, you hurt me. Not a scratch, physically or emotionally will touch her while I can stop it. Settle your scores with Damien without involving her.”Ma
Mr. Rogers (Katherine's former boss) sat in the dim glow of the hotel room, with a cigarette between his fingers. He leaned back on the velvet couch, watching the woman kneeling between his thighs with her mascara running down in messy streaks as she sucked on his cock, her tears glistening in the light. His face might’ve shown pleasure, but his mind was miles away, dragged back into the chaos that had consumed his life these past few months.Ever since the night Myles was killed.He could still hear the gunshot echoing in his head. He was the one who had pulled the trigger that killed Myles after days of battering his body with an acidic substance.Ever since that night, his life had been a living hell.Since his death, a group calling themselves the Revenge Team had been hunting him. And at first, he hadn’t taken them seriously. The first few messages he received seemed like a prank with anonymous notes, eerie pictures, even a doctored image of his face fixed onto a bloodstained th
In New York CityMadam Elizabeth, Kassandra and uncle Daniel sat round the dining table. Kassandra sat at the head where Massimo always sat, cradling a tiny bundle against her thigh. The baby stirred, letting out a faint sound before settling again. Kassandra had given birth a week ago, but she'd just left the hospital for home yesterday.Madam Elizabeth leaned forward with a wide smile. “She looks so much like Massimo. She even has his nose. She's so cute.”Kassandra’s gaze flicked toward Uncle Daniel. Their eyes met briefly, before she turned back to Madam Elizabeth with a smile. “Yeah,” she murmured. “Much like him. I just wish he were here to see the masterpiece we’ve both created.”For a moment, silence filled the room. Daniel’s jaw tightened as his eyes lingered on the baby. How dare Kassandra say that?!Even in your absence, you still taunt me, don’t you, Massimo? he thought bitterly.Madam Elizabeth’s smile faltered. She covered Kassandra’s hand with a squeeze. “He’ll come
“What the hell is wrong with you, Mass? Are you insane?” Ariana’s voice sliced through the tension.Massimo didn’t even flinch. “Don’t you dare interfere in what isn’t your business, Ariana.” he said, calmly.Katherine drew a quiet breath and rubbed her palms together to keep from trembling. “It’s fine, Ari,” she murmured, forcing a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’ll just go prepare now. He’s my boss, afterall.”Before she could go, Damian’s stoped her. “You’re not going anywhere, Kath!” he barked, slamming his palm on the table. “It is my company, and I’m your boss. I decide what happens.” His glare snapped toward Massimo. “This bastard is just an impostor!”“Watch your mouth, little Vortan,” he said evenly, though the ice in his tone could’ve frozen blood. “I don’t take kindly to filth, and especially not from a filthy mouth like yours.”“Say that again,” Damian growled, stepping forward, fists clenched.“I said,” Massimo emphasizes, “Watch. Your. Filthy. Mouth.”C
Katherine stood immediately, a bright smile lighting her face as she walked toward him. “Boss,” she greeted softly, bowing her head a little.“Hey, Kath,” Damien said warmly, returning the smile.“Only her friends are allowed to call her that, and you're not one.” Willow cut in sharply from his seat, his tone dripping with irritation.All eyes turned to him.Damien raised a brow, amused rather than offended. “My bad,” he said easily, flashing a grin that only seemed to irritate Willow more. “But I happen to be one of Kath's friends, too.”He emphasized friends and deliberately said Kath again.Willow’s jaw tightened. His hands curled into fists. Jordan, sitting beside him, quickly reached over and placed a calming hand on his arm. What Jordan had came to know with his little time with them, was that Willow loved Katherine, but Katherine doesn't share his feelings. Across the room, Ryan stifled a laugh, snickering quietly as he leaned back, already thumbing something into his phone,







